title: Emotional and cognitive health correlates of leisure activities in older Latino and Caucasian women.
abstract: This study examined differences in the frequency of leisure activity participation and relationships to depressive symptom burden and cognition in Latino and Caucasian women. Cross-sectional data were obtained from a demographically matched subsample of Latino and Caucasian (n = 113 each) postmenopausal women (age ≥60 years), interviewed in 2004-2006 for a multiethnic cohort study of successful aging in San Diego County. Frequencies of engagement in 16 leisure activities and associations between objective cognitive performance and depressive symptom burden by ethnicity were identified using bivariate and linear regression, adjusted for physical functioning and demographic covariates. Compared to Caucasian women, Latinas were significantly more likely to be caregivers and used computers less often. Engaging in organized social activity was associated with fewer depressive symptoms in both groups. Listening to the radio was positively correlated with lower depressive symptom burden for Latinas and better cognitive functioning in Caucasians. Cognitive functioning was better in Latinas who read and did puzzles. Housework was negatively associated with Latinas' emotional health and Caucasians' cognitive functioning. Latino and Caucasian women participate in different patterns of leisure activities. Additionally, ethnicity significantly affects the relationship between leisure activities and both emotional and cognitive health.
authors.affiliation: Department of Community Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of California, Los Angeles, San Diego, USA. yaxche9@gmail.com
authors.forename: Angelica P
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Herrera
authors.forename: Thomas W
authors.initials: TW
authors.lastname: Meeks
authors.forename: Sharron E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Dawes
authors.forename: Dominique M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Hernandez
authors.forename: Wesley K
authors.initials: WK
authors.lastname: Thompson
authors.forename: David H
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Sommerfeld
authors.forename: Matthew A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Allison
authors.forename: Dilip V
authors.initials: DV
authors.lastname: Jeste
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000208:ethnology*; D003863:Depression / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000208:ethnology*; D004644:Emotions; D004812:Epidemiologic Methods; D005260:Female; D015577:Geriatric Assessment; D054624:Health Status Disparities; D006630:Hispanic or Latino / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D007899:Leisure Activities / Q000523:psychology*; D008603:Mental Health / Q000208:ethnology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D017698:Postmenopause; D012725:Sexual Behavior / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D044465:White People / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*